From yoga on a sandstone clifftop to IV vitamin drips and mineral-rich mud rituals, today's wellness treatments are going the extra mile to reset and inspire.
Viking sauna and ice plunge
Eleven Deplar Farm, Ólafsfjörður
@elevendeplarfarm
This off-grid Icelandic retreat features a turf-roofed sauna perched above a glacial valley
– perfect for channeling your inner Viking through intense heat and freezing-cold plunges. The birch-scented sauna gives way to spring-fed pools, creating a striking contrast between fire and ice. Sessions often include breathwork and circulation-stimulating body tapping, whilst the Arctic light – from midnight sun to northern lights – takes the Nordic experience to dazzling new levels.
Mediterranean bath ritual
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como
@ghtlakecomo
Embodying the very essence of la dolce vita, Tremezzo's glamorous T Spa unfolds within 18th-century Villa Emilia, a former library with floors swathed in mosaics and ancient frescoes. This choreographed spa ritual moves between Mediterranean baths, aromatic steam rooms, a lake-view sauna with therapeutic heat and invigorating ice fountains. Make a beeline for the Italian Hammam, clad entirely in white Lasa marble with a heated plinth for bliss before slipping into the infinity pool, with its edge seemingly cascading directly into Lake Como. Date night? Visit the in-spa glam squad for a bouncy blow dry.
Overwater Tibetan singing bowl sound therapy
Gili Lankanfushi, Indian Ocean
@gili.lankanfushi
This is the ultimate location for a deep sound healing experience, suspended above the Indian Ocean. Lie back as Tibetan singing bowls are placed around and on the body, then struck to create resonant vibrations. The sound waves are said to melt tension and restore energetic balance, enhanced by reiki and Ayurvedic oils. Less spa treatment, more total escapism – it's an experience that will leave you completely recalibrated.
Tower Butte yoga experience
Amangiri, Utah
@amangiri
A cinematic helicopter flight from Amangiri soars over Glen Canyon before delivering guests to Tower Butte's sandstone summit and the ultimate alfresco yoga studio. At more than 1,000 feet above the Utah desert, this guided practice unfolds in complete silence, often timed to greet the sunrise as it unfolds beyond shimmering Lake Powell. The session is tailored to individual needs, with a focus that extends beyond physical movement to embrace breath, balance and perspective.
Elevated aesthetics
Nizuc Resort and Spa, Cancun
@nizucresort
While traditionalists love the guided hydrothermal circuit, the newly launched MedSpa is where things get serious. This aesthetic temple tips wellness into clinical territory with non-invasive body treatments that promise results. On the roster is everything from radiofrequency to boost collagen, CoolTone sessions that use magnetic pulses to strengthen abdominal muscles and FDA-approved SculpSure laser, said to destroy fat cells permanently in just 25 minutes.
IV infusion therapy
Viceroy Bali
@viceroybali
Ubud is synonymous with wellness and Viceroy Bali's Akoya Spa sits at the very heart of this renowned healing sanctuary. Expect traditional Balinese hospitality with a side of tech-forward treatments – think IV infusions targeting energy, detoxification or hydration, delivered either in-spa or privately in your villa. Beyond drips, Akoya offers ozone therapy to boost blood oxygen levels and reduce inflammation, plus pioneering regenerative therapy, which uses stem cells and peptides for cellular renewal. Chakra-balancing massages, herbal compresses and sound baths round out the menu.
Thermal circuit and Ischian mud ritual
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Forio d'Ischia
@mezzatorrehotel
Overlooking the Gulf of Naples on volcanic Ischia, naturally heated springs feed Mezzatorre's therapeutic waters. Guests move between thermal pools at precise temperatures (38°C and 36°C), steamy caves and cooling plunge baths, before being slathered in mineral-rich mud. Aged in thermal water for six months and applied at 45°C, the treatment creates an intense thermal contrast that purges toxins and excess water from the body. The ritual concludes with an invigorating Kneipp hydrotherapy treatment, which involves alternating between hot pools and chilled seawater baths for enhanced circulation.
Indigenous alchemy
Uxua Casa Hotel and Spa, Trancoso
@uxua
Vida Spa and Lab at Uxua is part laboratory, part hippie jungle retreat, all housed in a groovy, restored bungalow. Here, foraged ingredients are whizzed into products that honour local Pataxó folk medicine traditions. The spa's signature element is almescar oil – a bioactive resin prized by indigenous peoples for centuries and endemic only to southern Bahia and the Amazon. Beyond traditional treatments, Vida Spa and Lab offers immersive lessons in medical-nutritional cooking, essential oil extraction and natural fermentation. Cultural heritage extends to capoeira classes taught by local masters, with all proceeds supporting Trancoso's youth academy.
Discover more fantastic restaurants, bars and hotels with 50 Best Discovery, and start planning your next adventure.
